Business

Businesses weigh reopening – or close again – as cases rise

Published

6 years ago

June 28, 2020

It’s not the reopening businesses were hoping for.

After months of shutdown, restaurants, stores and even amusement parks announced their reopening with fanfare. But now that states like Texas and Arizona are seeing alarming surges in reported cases of COVID-19, businesses large and small must decide whether to keep their doors open.

In some cases, governments are pausing their reopening plans. On Friday, Texas and Arizona shut down bars except for takeout and scaled back restaurant dining capacity. Florida banned alcohol consumption at bars.

But many businesses had already taken those steps on their own, saying rising case numbers and shifting advice from state and local governments did not give them the confidence to stay open.

The Kolache Factory, which has 27 bakeries mostly in the Houston area, opened dining rooms for two weeks before shutting them down June 19 and returning to takeout and delivery. Chief Operating Officer Dawn Nielsen was getting mixed signals from Harris County — which required masks — and the state of Texas, which didn’t.

“It’s a scary time. At some point you just have to grab the reins of the horse and say, ‘I just have to make the decision myself and not wait for someone else to mandate what I have to do,’” Nielsen said.

Lei Low Rum and Tiki Bar in Houston reopened its 60-seat dining room at 50% capacity on June 10. But managing owner Russell Thoede said patrons didn’t always observe safety measures, like staying seated and wearing masks. On June 18, Thoede closed the bar again and restarted takeout cocktail kits. His employees were relieved, he said.

Apple, which started reopening its stores May 11, has closed at least 32 stores in hot spots like Florida and Texas. Best Buy, which opened most of its 1,000 stores last week, said it is reviewing local data and making tweaks in virus hot spots, like limiting the number of customers in the store.

In some cases, illnesses have prompted closures. Gila River Casinos closed its three locations in Phoenix on June 18 for two weeks, saying it needed to rethink operations after a security guard died a week earlier.

On June 20, McCray’s Backyard Bar-B-Q and Seafood in West Palm Beach, Florida, shut its doors for 10 days after learning one of its employees might have been exposed to COVID-19. The restaurant is hiring a cleaning company and requiring its 20 employees to get tested.

In East Lansing, Michigan, Harper’s Restaurant and Brewpub reopened June 8 to an exuberant college crowd. Now it’s closed again, and health officials are urging people who visited the bar to self-quarantine. As of Friday, at least 85 patrons had tested positive for COVID-19.

In some places, employees are pushing for businesses to close again. In Washtenaw County, Michigan, about an hour outside of Detroit, 1,300 servers have signed a petition asking county officials to close restaurants until COVID-19 is no longer a public health threat. They are scheduled to present the petition at a meeting on Wednesday.

“Bar culture promotes mingling, and in a tipping industry, are you going to have a fight with a customer about wearing a mask?” said one area bartender, who asked to remain anonymous because she fears her job could be impacted.

Many businesses are finding that the risks of reopening outweigh any reward from the meager foot traffic coming in the door, said Alden Parker, an attorney and co-chair of the hospitality group at the law firm Fisher Phillips, which specializes in labor and employment law. Already, more than 250 lawsuits have been filed against U.S. businesses nationwide over coronavirus, including from employees who say they were terminated after they tested positive.

The legal landscape is unclear. Some businesses have been requiring customers and employees to sign a waiver saying they won’t sue if they get sick. But whether they can be enforced varies by state and is open to debate. Employee issues will likely be covered by worker’s compensation insurance. But what if a venue puts up a sign encouraging masks, then doesn’t enforce it and a customer falls ill? It could be a year or two before courts sort that out, Parker said.

Advice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention comes in the form of guidance, not requirements. The CDC suggests businesses should immediately remove sick employees or customers and clean the immediate area after 24 hours, but it says the 24-hour wait is only “if feasible,” and can be shorter.

Matt Hinton, a partner with Control Risks who specializes in crisis and resilience consulting, said companies should use government restrictions as a minimum baseline and develop their own criteria, since they may have a different risk tolerance than what governments recommend. But he said many clients have complained that it’s hard to know which public officials to believe.

Aaron Post, the owner of Valkyrie cocktail bar in Tulsa, Oklahoma, reopened June 5 after being closed for 13 weeks. With no government guidelines about what to do if there is a resurgence of the virus, Post came up with his own metrics. He plans to close if the rate of positive tests hits 10% in his area; it’s currently at 8%.

“Without sweeping regulation or guidance from the government, it’s punitive to businesses that are choosing to be more ethical and responsible,” Post said.

Some businesses are delaying reopening. Disneyland in Anaheim, California, had planned to reopen July 17 but said this week it will push that back indefinitely while it waits for new state regulations.

Adam Orman, who runs L’Oca d’Oro Italian restaurant in Austin, Texas, may delay a planned July 30 reopening for outdoor seating. Orman thinks the speed at which Texas reopened hurt businesses.

“Nobody has a chance to settle into any of the guidelines — employees, owners or guests — and get used to the one reality before moving onto the next,” Orman said. Guests figure they don’t have to follow the rules because they’ll be changing soon anyway, he said.

Dr. Emily Landon, an infectious disease expert at the University of Chicago, said businesses may have to get used to being flexible.

She understands the desire for more government guidance, but said the public health infrastructure is strained and rules that work well for one area might not work for another.

The most important thing for businesses to do, she said, is mitigate risks for employees by requiring masks, frequent hand-washing and physical distancing.

“If you’re not protecting your workers, you’re not protecting your business,” she said. “We can’t make it go away. All we can do is decrease the impact.”

Business

Getty Images files for Chapter 11. What comes next for Florida photographers and videographers?

Published

4 days ago

November 9, 2026

FNN SPORTS

Getty expects licensing and contributor payments to continue as it seeks court approval for a restructuring. The case comes as AI puts pressure on generic stock imagery and verified coverage remains valuable to newsrooms.

Florida National News | Nov. 9, 2026

Getty Images is asking a federal bankruptcy court to approve a restructuring that would cut its debt and take the company private while it continues licensing photographs and video. For Florida photographers and videographers who sell work through Getty, the immediate question is whether royalties and assignment payments keep arriving on schedule. The longer-term question is which images and footage buyers will still pay to license as generative artificial intelligence makes some stock visuals easier to produce.

Getty Images Holdings Inc. and six subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 protection Oct. 21 in Delaware. The company entered the case with support from major financial stakeholders and says it expects to continue serving customers and paying contributors in the ordinary course. The court is scheduled to hear several initial motions Nov. 17 and consider confirmation of the restructuring plan Dec. 15. Getty Images Chapter 11 filing and financing disclosure · Bankruptcy docket and Nov. 17 hearing notice · BankruptcyData on the Dec. 15 confirmation hearing

What drove Getty into bankruptcy?

The proposed plan includes up to $533 million in equity commitments from Getty family and Koch Equity Development affiliates. That amount includes financing and conversion of some existing debt into equity. The plan would cancel existing shares and put the reorganized company under the ownership of those investors. Getty Images restructuring agreement

Getty reported $2.1 billion in debt at the end of June. Its second-quarter results also showed $110.9 million in payments related to a warrant litigation judgment and interest, as well as higher interest costs tied in part to financing for the proposed Shutterstock acquisition. Getty abandoned that deal in July after Britain’s competition regulator conditioned clearance on the sale of Shutterstock’s editorial business. Getty Images second-quarter results · U.K. Competition and Markets Authority on the abandoned merger

Getty’s results show why the bankruptcy matters differently across the industry. Second-quarter creative revenue fell 2.6% from a year earlier to $127.4 million, while editorial revenue rose 9.2% to $96.5 million. The company did not quantify how much of the creative decline was attributable to AI. Getty Images second-quarter results

What Florida contributors should watch

Getty says it expects to maintain normal operations through the restructuring. For freelancers, the next royalty statement and deposit will give them a more direct view of whether the process is affecting their income. A contributor who licenses archive photos, a freelance crew that invoices for assignments and a production company that supplies footage may each have different payment terms. Getty Images restructuring announcement

Contributors can reconcile deposits against statements and keep copies of agreements, invoices and notices. An overdue balance or a notice naming a specific contract warrants a closer look at the applicable court documents and deadlines. After the case, the terms that could affect earnings include royalty rates, exclusivity, subscription payouts and how a distributor packages photos and video.

A hand holds a smartphone in front of a blue and purple network of glowing image thumbnails

An AI-generated illustration for Florida National News’ coverage of Getty Images’ Chapter 11 restructuring and competition from generative AI.

Which Florida assignments are most exposed to AI?

Generic office scenes, beach-themed backgrounds and short lifestyle clips face more direct competition from generative tools. A buyer who needs a mood or setting can generate several options without scheduling a shoot. A buyer who needs footage of a specific launch from Florida’s Space Coast, storm damage in a particular neighborhood or a decisive play at a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game still needs a verifiable record of that event.

Florida’s news, sports and entertainment calendar gives local crews opportunities to supply that record. A videographer covering a major convention in Orlando might have an interview or clean footage that a national outlet missed. A photographer covering a local election might have the only usable image of a concession speech. For archive sales, accurate dates, locations, names and captions help buyers find the material and establish what it shows. Event credentials, assignment agreements and existing licenses can limit which uses a contributor can offer.

Getty is also selling generative AI tools. The company says its image generator is trained on licensed creative content and proprietary data and that licenses carry indemnification under the applicable agreement. That gives Getty a way to sell generated visuals to commercial buyers while continuing to license photographs and footage of real events. Getty Images generative AI terms and training FAQ

Where AP and Reuters fit

The Associated Press and Reuters overlap most directly with Getty in editorial coverage. Both can serve publishers that want additional sources of news photographs and video. Reuters Connect also offers live video and individual picture licensing. AP says its standards prohibit the use of generative AI to create, alter or enhance news photography. Associated Press AI standards · Reuters Connect licensing

AP and Reuters could gain business if publishers add a second supplier or Getty changes its prices, packages or service. Getty’s plan also leaves open a different outcome. If the company emerges with less debt and can invest more in editorial coverage, the two agencies could face a stronger competitor.

What comes next

The December hearing will determine whether Getty can move forward with the proposed plan, subject to the court’s ruling and remaining conditions. Getty has said it expects to complete the restructuring by year-end. For Florida contributors, the near-term measures are whether payments arrive, assignments continue and licensing terms change. The longer-term test is whether distributors and newsrooms will pay enough for distinctive, verified Florida coverage to sustain the people who produce it. Getty Images restructuring announcement · BankruptcyData on the Dec. 15 confirmation hearing

Business

New AdventHealth Middleton Clinic Brings Pediatric Specialists, Urogynecology Near The Villages

Published

2 weeks ago

October 30, 2026

FNN NEWS

The multispecialty clinic features 24 treatment rooms, pediatric imaging and services designed to bring care closer to Middleton families.

MIDDLETON, Fla. (FNN) — Families in Middleton have a new option for pediatric and women’s specialty care with the opening of the AdventHealth Middleton Multispecialty Clinic, according to an Oct. 29 news release from AdventHealth.

Located at 2274 Alder Ave., the clinic brings together pediatric primary care, pediatric cardiology, pediatric orthopedics and women’s urogynecology services. The facility includes 24 treatment rooms, a pediatric X-ray room and spaces for children’s heart screenings.

Bringing care closer to families

Middleton, a master-planned community along Central Parkway, is home to approximately 1,200 families and households, many with residents who work in and around The Villages, according to the release.

For Jenny Trew, whose family was the first to move to Middleton, the new clinic could mean fewer long trips for routine appointments. She has been driving nearly an hour to Clermont for pediatric care for her 13-year-old twin sons, Jasen and Jackson.

“Going to the pediatrician usually means pulling both boys out of school, taking time away from work and making a day out of something that should be pretty simple,” Trew said in the release.

Having a pediatrician in the neighborhood will make it easier to balance health care appointments with work, school, sports and other activities, she said.

Dr. Vanessa Carroll, chief medical officer of AdventHealth for Children, said proximity matters when families are seeking care for a sick or injured child.

“Parents don’t want to take their child to just any doctor. They want someone they can trust, right around the corner,” Carroll said in the release. “Because when your child is sick or injured, an hour-long drive can feel even farther.”

Expanding women’s specialty services

The clinic also provides urogynecology services, including care for urinary incontinence and pelvic floor conditions.

The location gives women a nearby option for specialized treatment aimed at improving comfort, health and quality of life, according to AdventHealth.

“Women spend so much of their lives caring for others, and it can become very easy to put their own health last,” Kristen Toth, vice president of AdventHealth for Women, said in the release. “We want women to know there is care here for them, too.”

The clinic brings AdventHealth for Children and AdventHealth for Women together at one location to serve families through different stages of life.

Supporting students and schools

Middleton’s early childhood centers, two K-8 schools and high school collectively enroll more than 3,000 students, according to the release.

LeAnne Yerk, principal of The Villages Charter Elementary School, said access to nearby pediatric care supports students’ health and readiness to learn.

“As educators, we see firsthand that a child’s ability to learn, grow and thrive in the classroom is deeply connected to their health and well-being,” Yerk said in the release.

She described the clinic’s proximity to schools as an important resource for students and families, helping connect health care with educational support.

Location and appointments

The AdventHealth Middleton Multispecialty Clinic is located at 2274 Alder Ave., Middleton, Florida.

To schedule an appointment, call:

Pediatric primary care: 352-467-7862
Pediatric cardiology: 352-353-2788
Pediatric orthopedics: 407-303-5687
Women’s urogynecology: 407-303-1380

For online appointment information, visit MyMiddletonPediatrics.com for children’s services or MiddletonUrogyn.com for women’s services.

Business

GOAA Highlights Airport Improvements, Approves New Small Business Policies

Published

3 weeks ago

October 22, 2026

FNN NEWS

Gate Link train on an elevated guideway at Orlando International Airport, with palm trees, airport buildings and a control tower behind it.

A Gate Link train travels along an elevated guideway at Orlando International Airport, with the airport’s control tower in the background. Photo courtesy of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

Terminal upgrades, parking projects and international connections mark the authority’s fiscal year review.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority highlighted terminal improvements, expanded international connections and parking projects during its fiscal 2026 review, while its board adopted changes to a local business program and announced a new statewide small business initiative.

The updates affect Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport, which GOAA operates.

“We are undertaking an ambitious effort to redefine what it means to deliver a world-class airport experience,” GOAA CEO Lance Lyttle said in the authority’s announcement.
“As we welcome more visitors, more airlines, more routes, and new programs, our responsibility is to elevate every part of the journey — making it more welcoming, intuitive, and connected.”

A Gate Link train travels along an elevated guideway at Orlando International Airport, with the airport’s control tower in the background. Photo courtesy of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

Terminal Improvements Focus on Connections and Families

Among the completed projects was an enclosed pedestrian bridge with moving walkways connecting Orlando International Airport’s train station and Terminal C.

Terminal C also opened a new wing serving gates 250–254, providing additional capacity and becoming the new home for Virgin Atlantic’s airport operations.

Three new Family Zones — one in each terminal — offer spaces for children and families to play, read and recharge. GOAA also highlighted improvements to directional signs along airport roads, in parking areas and throughout the terminals.

Parking Expansion and $40 Million Improvement Program

GOAA reported progress on a parking guidance system at Terminal C, with phased activation across all garages planned through mid-2027.

Dedicated employee parking areas are intended to free additional spaces for travelers. Planning is also underway for two new garages expected to add 8,000 public parking spaces over the next few years.

Separately, the authority’s $40 million Beautiful Airports Program targets safety, functionality and appearance across garages, terminals and other airport areas.

Aviation Investments and International Service

The fiscal year review highlighted a $50 million investment by dnata, a $26 million redevelopment by Signature Aviation at Orlando International Airport and groundbreaking for Sky Harbour’s $40 million campus at Orlando Executive Airport.

International service developments included ZIPAIR’s nonstop passenger charter flights between Orlando and Tokyo and Iberia’s launch of nonstop service to Madrid.

GOAA described ZIPAIR’s service as the first passenger charter connection between Florida and the Asia-Pacific region.

Business Policy Changes Broaden Eligibility

The board adopted revisions to GOAA’s Local Developing Business program following research, town halls and discussions with internal experts.

The changes increase the allowable personal net worth threshold and clarify how assets are excluded from that calculation, including primary residence equity, business equity, retirement assets and certain nonliquid holdings.

Business size standards were also revised to account for inflation and increased operating costs. The announcement did not specify the updated financial thresholds.

A new Small Business program will complement the local program and extend eligibility to qualifying businesses throughout Florida. Under the announced framework, participating businesses must fall within 50% of the applicable U.S. Small Business Administration size standard.

GOAA said detailed guidelines for both programs would be posted on its website. Those guidelines will provide businesses with the information needed to assess eligibility.